Mocking the Panthers 9.0

Panthers.com started its look at mock drafts around the World Wide Web a few days after the NFL Scouting Combine concluded.

Nearly two months later, and about a week away from the NFL Draft, things have changed.

The eight mock drafters featured in the first two installments of Mocking the Panthers all have a different first-round pick forecast for Carolina now. Five of the eight are now predicting that the Panthers will select an offensive tackle, whereas just one thought so in early March. The four mockers that had the Panthers choosing a defensive back are now splitting their guesses evenly between offensive tackle and wide receiver.

The timing of the shift toward offensive tackle is somewhat surprising because at the time of the earlier mocks, left tackle Jordan Gross had already announced his retirement. On the other hand, a round of roster moves near the start of free agency that dinged Carolina at wide receiver and in the secondary had yet to happen.

Despite the changes, the one constant has been that the large majority of mockers – not just the ones listed below – believe the Panthers will target an offensive lineman, wide receiver or defensive back with 28th overall pick. They just can't agree on which one.

Banks still seems to think Carolina should take a corner in an ideal world. "Unfortunately for the Panthers, the first-round cornerback market has been picked clean at this point," he writes. But he no longer lists Roberson as a first-rounder and has Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller and Texas Christian corner Jason Verrett going in the three picks before.

The former Panthers scout has been the most consistent in his assessment of Carolina's first choice. After being on wide receiver Brandin Cooks early, Brooks has moved Cooks up the board and has targeted Kouandjio in three of his four mocks since, switching to Moses once right after Kouandjio's shaky combine showing.